Gators baseball team returns to the top 25 after more than a month away

Florida has won three straight SEC series headed into a visit to SEC power LSU

April 29, 2013|By Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel

GAINESVILLE — Florida's baseball team returned to the Baseball America national rankings for the first time since Feb. 18 and is No. 21.

The Gators (25-20, 12-9 SEC) lost 4-2 Sunday to Tennessee, but did win their third straight SEC conference series. Florida beat the Vols 7-2 Friday and 3-2 in 10 innings on Saturday.

But Florida will have a tough time making it four straight SEC series wins. The Gators begin a three-game series Thursday at SEC West leader LSU (39-6, 16-5).

• Rutgers transfer Eli Carter visited Florida's campus Monday to see if the Gators are the best fit as he decides on a new college.

Carter's decision is down to Florida and Maryland. He will return home Tuesday to New Jersey, but does not have a visit yet planned to College Park, Md.

The 6-foot-2 Carter averaged 14.9 points last season before he broke his leg Feb. 16. He recently had his cast removed and is on track to be ready for next season.

Carter could be the second key Rutgers transfer for coach Billy Donovan.

Mike Rosario, the Gators' leading scorer as a senior last season, left Rutgers in 2010 and signed with Florida. Rosario also went to the same high school as Carter, storied St. Anthony's in New Jersey.

• Florida softball sophomore Lauren Haeger was named picked up SEC player of the week for the second time this season.

Haeger was 5 of 9 with two home runs and five RBIs as the No. 2 Gators (47-6, 16-5 SEC) won two of three games against Georgia. Florida wraps up the regular season at South Carolina this weekend.